President Prof, Peter Mutharika Wednesday made it public that he never got sick while in prison at Lumbadzi Police Station in Lilongwe
This was the first time for the President to narrate the situation he went through while in jail since he ascended to power.
Prof. Mutharika together with his eight colleagues was arrested during Joyce Banda’s reign and was charged with conspiracy to break the law and treason.
The President said, “I was arrested alongside my good friends, Goodall Gondwe, Henry Musa, Bright Msaka among others and we spent three days in jail. While here, the then Inspector General of Police Loti Dzonzi received a directive from the former President that I needed medical attention that doctors have been assigned for that which was a blue lie.
“Three “fake” doctors arrived here (at the Lumbadzi Prison) and before they could enter the prison they were detained by the DPP supporters who demanded their identities and explanation of their motives.”
He added, “When our party supporters asked if I were sick I said no, this, angered them to the extent that they started chasing the so called doctors and beat them up.”
The President said he did not know the reasons behind his detention as well as the doctors who were sent for him.
“I have assigned an affidavit with the Inspector General of Police I will produce it at an appropriate time,” Mutharika said in brief as he promised to disclose more at a rally he had later in the day.
As part for celebration, the President donated blankets, 15 chairs and 8 solar lamps among other items to Lumbadzi police station.
Apart from making donations, the President visited the cell he was kept and wrote his name on its wall.
The other people who were arrested alongside the president also wrote their names on the walls of the cell.
Bright Msaka, Goodall Gondwe, Henry Musa, Nicolas Dausi, Patricia Kaliati, Kondwani Nakhumwa, Dr. Jean Kalilani and Vuwa Kaunda are some of the people who were arrested during Banda’s regime.
Vuwa Kaunda confided to Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the life they went through was pathetic. Kaunda said they were denied access to the toilet and exposed to a bad smell.
“I was picked at my house at around 1.00 AM and when I tried to enquire they said it was a directive that we must be arrested. I must tell you that it was a terrible experience, imagine, they even asked us to hand in our passports.
“However, I am happy that today I can celebrate my freedom,” Kaunda said who was seen throughout the two hours spent at Lumbadzi police station hugging friends they stayed together in jail.
